2018 Mediterranean Games gold medalist Kristian Gkolomeev of Greece has joined the International Swimming League (ISL) team Aqua Centurions. The squad is captained by iconic Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini and is based in Rome. Gkolomeev is the 2nd elite announcement in as many days, as Olympic medalist Laszlo Cseh was also added to the roster this week.
25-year-old Gkolomeev had a successful collegiate swimming career at the University of Alabama, winning the 50y freestyle NCAA title in his freshman year, followed by a 100y freestyle title his sophomore year.
The Greek athlete earned the 50m freestyle gold last year in Tarragona, taking the Mediterranean Games top prize in a then-national record of 21.66. He went on to blow that mark out of the water at the European Championships 2 months later, claiming silver in a monster 21.44.
Gkolomeev is currently ranked 9th in the world this season in the men’s 50m freestyle with the 21.91 he put up at the Greek National Championships this past March.
Best Times:
50 free – 21.44 LCM; 21.02 SCM
100 free – 48.68 LCM; 47.30 SCM
50 fly – 23.19 LCM; 23.24 SCM
Aqua Centurions roster as of May 24th:
| Federica Pellegrini | Luca Dotto |
| Sarah Koehler | Santo Condorelli |
| Franziska Hentke | Phillip Heintz |
| Margherita Panziera | Fabio Scozzoli |
| Martina Carraro | Laszlo Cseh |
| Kaylee McKeown | Kristian Gkolomeev |
Looks a nice team by far. I mean the team that can actually be a team. More uniform (if it is a right word) geographically and by skills. If ISL manages to raise an interest in team competition, but not an interest in particular swimmer getting big money. If they manage to get rid of the national association of each swimmer or group of swimmers then the Aqua Centurions can get more fans than any other ISL teams, I think.
Does he still train at Alabama?
He is training in Greece.